HOPE Internationalhttp://blog.hopeinternational.org
BlogTue, 15 Aug 2017 16:45:48 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.8.146329337“Affordable nutrition on every table”http://blog.hopeinternational.org/2017/08/10/affordable-nutrition-on-every-table/
http://blog.hopeinternational.org/2017/08/10/affordable-nutrition-on-every-table/#commentsThu, 10 Aug 2017 15:17:17 +0000http://blog.hopeinternational.org/?p=7202When Tinashe Butau in Zimbabwe lost her husband, she was left as the sole provider for her four children. For years, Tinashe struggled to put food on the table. Despite her entrepreneurial spirit and work ethic, she felt that there were no options for her to move forward. So when a respected elderly friend told her about a savings group meeting she had just heard of, Tinashe was eager to learn more.

“I was tired of living from hand to mouth,” she says. “The group provided a means out of poverty and beyond living hand to mouth.”

Joining a savings group through her local church in September 2014, Tinashe began putting aside $20 each month. In a group made up of mostly widows and single mothers, the group quickly became a source of deep community and growth for Tinashe. “The Lord has really taken care of us,” she says. “He is our husband. And we have each other.”

With a loan from the group, Tinashe was able to grow her peanut butter business by purchasing a peanut processing machine, eliminating the cost of paying others to roast and grind her peanuts. As her business has grown, she’s been able to employ one of her sons and his wife.

Tinashe also used a group loan to purchase a welding machine from South Africa to start a welding and steel fabrication business in partnership with her other son, who was previously unemployed. She also was able to purchase 10 chickens to produce eggs, as well as a sewing machine to start making children’s clothing and school uniforms. In the future, Tinashe hopes to save enough money to obtain her driver’s license and a delivery car for her peanut butter business.

As her income has stabilized, Tinashe has greater capacity to care for others in her community, desiring for her neighbors to have access to healthy food at a reasonable price. Her desire is to “ensure that there is good and affordable nutrition on every table,” she says, seeing her peanut butter and egg businesses as ways to provide nourishing, filling food to her community. Recognizing that many of her neighbors often do not have disposable cash, Tinashe encourages them to bring their own jars for a discounted rate on peanut butter. Customers can also receive a free jar of peanut butter if they bring 10 jars. In addition to making the peanut butter more affordable, this practice also encourages community members to recycle.

Passionate about wisely stewarding the resources she has, Tinashe suggested that her group save for their dreams in the first half of the savings cycle and save for household items in the second half of the cycle. Together, they buy groceries in bulk and distribute them equally. Tinashe taught many of them how to bake homemade bread, avoiding spending excess money on expensive pre-made loaves.

She also purchases groceries for her mother-in-law and supports her nephew through college. “As a good steward, I am honored to share. … I have learned a lot about relationships and God’s expectations for us in those relationships,” she says.

For Tinashe, being a part of the savings group has empowered her to grow both her business and to better serve her community. Reflecting on her experience in the savings group, she says, “It doesn’t matter how little you think you have; being in a group makes that seemingly insignificant money multiply and opens your life to limitless possibilities. I have peace and joy, thanks to the savings group.”

]]>http://blog.hopeinternational.org/2017/08/10/affordable-nutrition-on-every-table/feed/17202Why you and your friends should talk about your moneyhttp://blog.hopeinternational.org/2017/08/01/why-you-and-your-friends-should-talk-about-your-money/
http://blog.hopeinternational.org/2017/08/01/why-you-and-your-friends-should-talk-about-your-money/#commentsTue, 01 Aug 2017 14:51:45 +0000http://blog.hopeinternational.org/?p=7188Money is a tool, and when we keep our relationship with money private, it can easily become a second master, keeping us from living lives fully obedient to Jesus. In the West, where open conversations about money often feel off limits, rarely discussed even in accountability groups, this openness can be a real struggle.

But we see HOPE International clients doing this well. Right now, in each of the 16 countries where HOPE serves, clients are cultivating a culture of discussing money openly together. Over 900,000 hardworking men and women gather regularly in small groups to pray, worship, save or lend together, and deepen friendships.

HOPE-network clients show us two benefits of sharing openly about money.

Friends help us see blind spots. By opening our financial and business lives to each other, we gain perspective on weaknesses we previously couldn’t recognize in ourselves. Just as group members help one another make better decisions with money, we too could benefit from the wise counsel of friends who know the reality of our financial situation.

Money is put in its rightful place. Jesus says in Matthew 6:24, “You cannot serve both God and money.” Community helps us keep our priorities in order. Groups in the HOPE network start meetings with worship and prayer, modeling community’s power to help us live into the joy of walking with Christ as our Lord and money as a tool for honoring Him.

HOPE-network clients also model a few ground rules for building this kind of financial transparency:

Build trust. To gain the full benefits of openness, it needs to be practiced in the context of trusting relationships. Without trust, candid sharing can lead to gossip, misunderstanding, and jealousy.

Acknowledge God’s ultimate ownership. Clients spend time praying and worshipping together as they discuss personal finances. It’s important to have a shared understanding that all possessions are God’s and we’re simply managers.

Love one another. Even if we trust our friends and agree on God’s ownership of all things, it’s still unwise to openly discuss finances if we’re not rooting for one another’s success. When sharing openly, do so in love, desiring the best for others.

Following the example of HOPE-network clients, discussing finances more openly leads us to deeper relationships with each other. When we pursue these benefits within the confines of trusting, loving relationships with a shared understanding of God’s ultimate ownership, we more easily taste the joy of following and obeying Christ together.

Looking for a way to build this kind of community? Invite your friends to meet quarterly to discuss stewardship topics like how your family modeled financial management or what Scripture says about money. Watch What’s in your Hands or Generous Giving videos. You can also host or attend a Journey of Generosity with your friends.

Blake joined HOPE as a regional representative in Houston, TX, in 2016. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, Blake is married to Meagan, and they have a son, Rivers. In addition to his work at HOPE, Blake enjoys the Houston food scene, running, playing the drums, and writing about meaningful progress toward values-driven productivity.

]]>http://blog.hopeinternational.org/2017/08/01/why-you-and-your-friends-should-talk-about-your-money/feed/17188What does it look like to support HOPE?http://blog.hopeinternational.org/2017/07/21/what-does-it-look-like-to-support-hope/
http://blog.hopeinternational.org/2017/07/21/what-does-it-look-like-to-support-hope/#respondFri, 21 Jul 2017 15:40:03 +0000http://blog.hopeinternational.org/?p=7165For John Sahid this past May, it looked like this:
Five months earlier, while ringing in the New Year, John had written down a fitness goal that would push him in 2017: complete the IRONMAN 70.3 St. George. While he’d competed in other races in the past, this triathlon—involving a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride, and a 13.1-mile run through the mountainous terrain of St. George, Utah—would be demanding.

But as significant as this new challenge seemed, John felt compelled to expand his vision. He could use all that he was investing in training for and competing in the event—his time, energy, and abilities—to go even further.

“My wife, Katie, and I recently became more involved with HOPE International by joining its local board in Northern California,” John relates. “We realized that the IRONMAN could be one way to increase awareness of HOPE within our family, friends, and coworkers.”

So, as John shared about his plans to do the race, he also described his passion for Christ-centered microenterprise development and invited others to support him through a gift to HOPE. In response, dozens of friends and family members rallied around John, raising close to $4,000.

John says that connecting his efforts with HOPE fueled him personally, as well: “I felt a sense of added responsibility and accountability—in a good way—to train and compete well, as I was representing something bigger than just myself through HOPE.”

Finally, race day arrived, and after seven grueling hours of exertion, John crossed the finished line, cheered on by his family.

***

What does it look like to support HOPE? It really depends on you—the hopes and passions, resources and abilities that God has placed in your hands.

Here are a few out-of-the-box ideas to get you started:

Have an older vehicle, jewelry, or even a gift card that you no longer need? These items can go to support HOPE through iDonate.

Browse HOPE’s Gift Catalog for a meaningful gift to celebrate a loved one.

]]>http://blog.hopeinternational.org/2017/07/21/what-does-it-look-like-to-support-hope/feed/07165As terrorist violence continues, join us in praying for the Philippines.http://blog.hopeinternational.org/2017/07/13/as-terrorist-violence-continues-join-us-in-praying-for-the-philippines/
http://blog.hopeinternational.org/2017/07/13/as-terrorist-violence-continues-join-us-in-praying-for-the-philippines/#respondThu, 13 Jul 2017 16:07:51 +0000http://blog.hopeinternational.org/?p=7158On May 23, Islamic State militants took control of Marawi, a Filipino city on the island of Mindanao. Over 500 people have been killed, and 300,000 civilians have been forced to flee their homes to escape the occupation.

Now months later, as violence continues in Mindanao, we ask that you join us in prayer for the Philippines, specifically lifting up the Center for Community Transformation (CCT), HOPE’s local partner in the Philippines.

While CCT does have several branches on the island of Mindanao, all of them are several hours away from Marawi, where the majority of the violence has occurred thus far. We praise God that no CCT clients have been injured or killed—though many have family members or friends who are missing, dead, or fleeing the violence.

As we grieve over the unrest in Mindanao, we invite you to join us in praying Scripture over the Philippines:

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in Spirit(Psalm 34:18). Father, be near to those whose loved ones are missing, injured, or killed. We know that You are no stranger to grief—surround each grieving person with Your comfort and peace.

Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you (Psalm 5:11). Lord, protect the 21 million people living in Mindanao. Let the terrorists gain no more ground in the country, and protect those who are still trapped inside Marawi.

Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths(Psalm 25:4). As CCT’s leaders make important decisions about CCT’s operations in Mindanao, grant them wisdom and discernment. As clients’ businesses are affected by the unrest, give CCT’s staff in Mindanao sound judgement in supporting local clients.

In the day of trouble, he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock (Psalm 27:5). For the many families who have lost their homes, provide shelter, Lord. As so many families have lost all they have in the world, we pray that You would restore their hope for the future and provide for their physical needs.

The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace(Psalm 29:11). Father, we know that your heart breaks at violence and injustice in the world. Bring Your peace to Mindanao. Bring the violence to an end quickly, so that no more lives might be lost.

]]>http://blog.hopeinternational.org/2017/07/13/as-terrorist-violence-continues-join-us-in-praying-for-the-philippines/feed/07158This is the impact we hope forhttp://blog.hopeinternational.org/2017/07/07/this-is-the-impact-we-hope-for/
http://blog.hopeinternational.org/2017/07/07/this-is-the-impact-we-hope-for/#respondFri, 07 Jul 2017 15:51:49 +0000http://blog.hopeinternational.org/?p=7142In When Helping Hurts, Brian Fikkert writes, “Christian development work must include a clear presentation of the Gospel. Failure to do so denies individuals access to the only real solution to the fundamental causes of poverty.” Similarly, at HOPE, we believe the roots (and solutions) of poverty, brokenness, and hopelessness go deeper than a lack—or excess—of material things.

Addressing physical needs is just one aspect in true human flourishing. During His earthly ministry, Jesus was a perfect example of meeting physical and spiritual needs. In Matthew 9:35, we read that “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.”

Jesus combined proclaiming the Gospel with healing physical brokenness, demonstrating how these needs are interconnected. Following this example—and acknowledging our mutual need for restoration in Christ—we seek spiritual, material, personal, and social transformation.

An example of this holistic impact, Diogene (pictured with his wife) joined a savings group through his local church in Rwanda, experiencing significant change in his life:

Spiritual:

One day, Diogene heard music coming from a nearby church. Curious, he went inside to hear more, sitting in the back to hide his embarrassment over his dirty and torn clothes. Diogene became a believer, and members of the church encouraged him to join their savings group. “I am now close to God and know He is guiding my life. He taught me to be a new man, a man that loves and respects his wife, a man that does not steal but works hard,” Diogene describes.

Material:

Through his savings and loans from his group, Diogene started farming and set up a shop to sell various household items. “I was very poor before I joined the savings group. I used to steal in order to eat. I literally owned nothing. [Now] we have plenty of food to eat and water is available. We also have enough clean clothes to wear, and my kids are in school.”

Personal:

Diogene now feels a profound sense of hope for the future. “It’s like everything about me and my family changed after joining the savings group. It is as if we are a new family. I have become a new man.”

Social:

Members of Diogene’s church embraced him, sharing clothes with his family and teaching him to read and write. “Before I knew the Lord, I was not a good husband. This relationship with the church, with the savings group, and with the pastor has made me a better man and saved my marriage.”

Want to learn more about what it looks like when HOPE invests in the dreams of families? This short video will walk you through the process.

]]>http://blog.hopeinternational.org/2017/07/07/this-is-the-impact-we-hope-for/feed/07142“Love is shown through serving those you love.”http://blog.hopeinternational.org/2017/06/26/love-is-shown-through-serving-those-you-love/
http://blog.hopeinternational.org/2017/06/26/love-is-shown-through-serving-those-you-love/#respondMon, 26 Jun 2017 14:14:51 +0000http://blog.hopeinternational.org/?p=7108Each year, we celebrate clients who demonstrate HOPE’s values of perseverance, compassion, character, and creativity by announcing Thurman Award winners. Established in honor of HOPE’s first CEO and his wife, the Thurman Award celebrates clients who have not only experienced change in their own lives but have also extended that transformation to others in their community. We’re excited to share the story of this year’s honorable mention from Eastern Europe: Vadim Dashko.

Born into a tumultuous family in Russia, Vadim Dashko’s early days involved poverty and abuse. To escape her husband, Vadim’s mother relocated with her children to Ukraine. Facing poverty and the memories of her marriage, she turned to drinking, creating even more turbulence for Vadim and his sister. For many years after, Vadim struggled with loneliness, depression, and poverty. Still, as he became a husband and a father, he grew more and more determined to overcome his challenges and become a businessman.

Using his own capital, Vadim opened a small stand selling accessories for mobile phones in mall. After learning of HOPE Ukraine from another client, Vadim joined HOPE in 2014, hoping to expand the range of goods in his store. With loans from HOPE Ukraine, he was able to expand to two new storefronts and three employees. He dreams of continuing to grow and develop his business to include more storefronts and more employees.

As HOPE Ukraine staff developed a relationship with Vadim, they repeatedly invited him to church until he finally agreed to go. In February 2016, Vadim also attended one of HOPE Ukraine’s first family camps, and through his experiences there, he came to know Christ personally.

Vadim’s life continued to change, now that he had found new life in Christ. As he has deepened his relationship with the Lord, he has also grown in his relationships with his wife and their two daughters. “Love is shown through serving those you love,” he says. “It is very important to spend time with my wife and children.”

Eager to share his newfound faith with others, Vadim is quick to tell friends and family how God has changed his life.

Each year, we celebrate clients who demonstrate HOPE’s values of perseverance, compassion, character, and creativity by announcing Thurman Award winners. Established in honor of HOPE’s first CEO, the Thurman Award celebrates clients who have not only experienced change in their own lives but have also extended that transformation to others in their community. We’re excited to share the story of this year’s honorable mention from Asia: Gemma Vasquez.

When digital photography began growing in the Philippines, the small photography studio where Gemma Vasquez’s husband worked quickly went out of business. Scrambling to find other work, Gemma and her husband soon landed on a new business venture: selling popcorn.

With loans from the Center for Community Transformation (CCT), HOPE’s partner in the Philippines, Gemma’s business has seen significant growth. Since joining CCT in 2008, Gemma has used loans to purchase material to build the carts, popcorn sugar, salt, food coloring, margarine, paper bags, and kerosene. They’ve also purchased a motorcycle to make it easier to run business-related errands, and Gemma has opened a sari-sari, or convenience store, in her home, stabilizing their income even when popcorn sales are slow. “I am certain that I would have no business if not for CCT,” Gemma shares.

As their business has grown, Gemma has been able to provide jobs for many friends and neighbors from the community where many people struggle with unemployment. The popcorn vendors travel to busy areas of nearby towns, and many are hired for birthday parties or other events. With their increased income, Gemma has also been able to send all of their three children to school, one of whom is now in her third year of college.

Gemma has loved the spiritual guidance she has received through CCT—a major reason she became a client. Where Gemma once struggled with anger and impatience, the CCT staff say that she has grown increasingly patient and peaceful as she has come to know God more.

“I thank the Lord that CCT trusts micro-entrepreneurs like me with large amounts of money for our businesses,” Gemma says. “I also thank the Lord that through my business, all the needs of my family are met.”

Each year, we celebrate clients who demonstrate HOPE’s values of perseverance, compassion, character, and creativity by announcing Thurman Award winners. Established in honor of HOPE’s first CEO and his wife, the Thurman Award celebrates clients who have not only experienced change in their own lives but have also extended that transformation to others in their community. We’re excited to share the story of this year’s honorable mention from Latin America: Clari Santana.

After a serious car accident claimed one of Clari Santana’s legs and one of her hands, she didn’t know what to do next. A single mother of two boys, she now couldn’t continue in her business of delivering food to factory workers. “I thought the world had ended,” she shared. That’s when she heard about Esperanza International, HOPE’s local partner in the Dominican Republic.

With loans from Esperanza, she started purchasing kitchen items in bulk for reselling. As her business grew, Clari repeatedly demonstrated her work ethic and trustworthiness, and she continued to put Esperanza loans to use in her business. In recent years, she has moved from selling cookware to the more profitable business of buying and selling pigs.

After her accident, Clari continued to work diligently to support her sons. Though even simple household tasks were a challenge, she continued ironing, cooking, and cleaning, even mopping from her wheelchair. As her business grew, she was able to rent a nicer apartment with two bedrooms and a kitchen. “I didn’t stop because I’d been injured,” she says. “No, I kept moving forward. I continued onward.”

Soon after Clari’s accident, she came to know Christ after a neighbor invited her to church. Clari joined Esperanza as a new believer, and she loved how her community bank’s spiritual emphasis helped her go deeper in her relationship with God. “Each thing you do, you first present it to God. And He guides and protects you,” she says.

***

Watch this 360° video and travel to the Dominican Republic on a virtual HOPE Trip to meet clients of HOPE International’s local partner, Esperanza International, and witness how each client uses their skills and talents to provide for their families and communities.

]]>http://blog.hopeinternational.org/2017/06/06/i-kept-moving-forward-i-continued-onward/feed/07116“I came to realize I was capable.”http://blog.hopeinternational.org/2017/05/24/i-came-to-realize-i-was-capable/
http://blog.hopeinternational.org/2017/05/24/i-came-to-realize-i-was-capable/#commentsWed, 24 May 2017 09:00:47 +0000http://blog.hopeinternational.org/?p=7080

Each year, HOPE celebrates clients who demonstrate HOPE’s values of perseverance, compassion, character, and creativity by announcing the Thurman Award. Established in honor of HOPE’s first CEO, the Thurman Award celebrates clients who have not only experienced change in their own lives but have also extended that transformation to others in their community. We’re excited to share the story of Savera, this year’s winner!

For years, Savera Mutemariya and her husband struggled to support their family. Like many people in the community of Kigabiro, Rwanda, they supported their family mostly through what they grew in their fields, making it difficult to consistently provide for their family’s needs.

“My life was very bad,” Savera remembers. “Getting food was very hard. I didn’t have a house. I had three kids, but I wasn’t able to pay for primary school fees.”

When Savera heard about Urwego Bank, HOPE’s microfinance bank in Rwanda, it sounded too good to be true. Surprised to hear that Urwego would work with women—something that many banks refused to do—Savera eagerly signed up. With her first loans, Savera began selling peanuts at market. “I started to realize I was capable,” she says. “I used to believe I couldn’t do much, but I came to realize I was quite capable.”

In the decade since her first loan, Savera has used her entrepreneurial spirit and loans from Urwego to expand into a number of different businesses. Employing 50 people in her community, she manages a supermarket, a hardware store, farming activity, a painting business, a carpentry business, and a group of rental properties.

As her family’s financial situation stabilized, Savera grew increasingly passionate about developing her community. Knowing what it’s like to be in need, Savera serves those around her in countless ways. She has adopted eight orphans, in addition to paying for school fees and health insurance for many of her neighbors and employees. She allows her employees to take food from her fields to support their families, and she built wells in her community so that her neighbors could have easy access to clean water. She shares freely of her business knowledge with her neighbors, teaching them to farm and raise cows.

“Through giving, I came to learn that blessings multiply,” Savera says. “I give with joy because I know God multiplies.” Passionate about her relationship with Christ, Savera also leads several families in Bible studies in her home each week.

Since her husband died several years ago, Savera has held fast to the belief that God is with her. “I gained a great relationship with God from my struggles of poverty,” she shares. “I learned how to lean on God with a little or a lot. My problems are no longer a challenge to me; I take them to Him.”

]]>http://blog.hopeinternational.org/2017/05/24/i-came-to-realize-i-was-capable/feed/17080Serving those on the marginshttp://blog.hopeinternational.org/2017/05/18/serving-those-on-the-margins/
http://blog.hopeinternational.org/2017/05/18/serving-those-on-the-margins/#respondThu, 18 May 2017 15:40:02 +0000http://blog.hopeinternational.org/?p=7087

Rather than favoring the religious elite, Jesus chose to spend time with the marginalized. Desiring to emulate our Savior, HOPE has a strategic objective to serve communities that are not open to the Gospel and those that have little access to microenterprise development services. Worldwide, the HOPE network intentionally reaches out to some of the most disenfranchised communities in the countries where we serve.

Serving the Batwa in Burundi

In 2016, HOPE Burundi launched a savings program with the Batwa, an ethnic group that has historically faced discrimination and abuse. Making up less than 2 percent of Burundi’s population, the Batwa rarely own land, and few have access to an education. Many Batwa survive by selling clay pots for less than 3 cents each. Often unwelcome in traditional churches, a large number of Batwa practice animism, a belief system that ascribes spiritual qualities to objects, places, or creatures.

The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. Psalm 103:6

Working with two local church denominations, HOPE Burundi provides discipleship, business training, and a safe place to save for the Batwa. Already, the ministry has grown to serve 534 group members in 37 groups. (A Batwa savings group is pictured above.)

For one group member, Christine (pictured), selling traditional Batwa clay pots wasn’t enough to support her family. But with livelihood training through the savings ministry, she learned how to farm and raise cattle.

With loans from the group, she bought goats, pigs, and a plot of land, in addition to using her savings to buy school supplies for her children. She shares, “[The Batwa] used to be behind in society. Now, I feel worthy and am not afraid.”

To learn more about how HOPE is investing in the dreams of families living in underserved communities, read the features in our annual report.